Method and apparatus for randomly generating information for subsequent correlating

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for manipulating data entries on a screen of a computer display is provided. Random data entries are allowed on pages of a dedicated application program in real time. A &#34;capture now, organize later&#34; functionality is implemented. The dedicated application program is used to capture &#34;pages&#34; of notes which form individual data sets. Drag-and-drop functionality is provided for organizing pages post creation by making other application programs compatible with receiving and retaining the captured data sets. Once a data set &#34;page&#34; is discarded or used to &#34;stick&#34; the data into another application, it is deleted from the dedicated application program and the remaining data sets are reordered sequentially.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to data storage, moreparticularly to data entry and compilation and specifically to a stylusinput device based computer, having a method for the random capture ofinformation for later organization.

2. Description of Related Art

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, "pen-input based" computer systems,sometimes referred to as "palmtops," are small, hand-held computingapparatus 100. One such apparatus is the OMNIGO™ computer byHewlett-Packard Company. While a keypad 102 is provided, having a set ofalphanumeric and function keys 103 (FIGS. 1A and 1B only) for programcontrol and data entry and manipulation, generally a primary means forinputting data in a palmtop computer is a hand-manipulated stylus, or"pen," 104, configured as a gesture implemented data manipulationdevice. Handwriting recognition based on stylus input to a "touchscreen"is well known to persons skilled in the art. The pen 104 can be carriedin a holster 105 as shown in FIG. 1A, and is removed from the holster105 by pulling in the direction of the representative arrow in thedrawing. The palmtop apparatus housing 106 folds via a hinge mechanism107 from a closed position for easy transportation (preferably palmtopsare pocket-sized), to a desktop type position as shown in FIGS. 1A and1B, to a fully open position as shown in FIG. 1C.

A dual function display 108, such as an LCD touchscreen as would beknown in the art, is provided to serve as both an input device and anoutput device. When operating as an input device, the display exhibitseither keypad 102 entries as shown in FIG. 1B or the positioning of thetip of the stylus 104 on the display 108 as shown in FIG. 1C. The dataentered in either manner is routed via the apparatus' internal, centralprocessing unit ("CPU" such as a commercially available VG-230™ byVADEM™--not shown) and memory (not shown) as would also be known in theart. When operating as an output device, the display 108 presentscomputer generated images on its central data screen section 109(hereinafter "screen 109"), FIG. 2, based upon the user input. Withtouchscreen capability, the display 108 can also be used for quickprogram access. Icons 1-12 in the display 108 side perimeters 201 areprovided which when touched with the stylus 104 (FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C)activate, "boot-up," the requested application program. One of theicons, 1 Home screen, is used to bring up application icons that are notin the screen side perimeters 201 onto the central data screen section109.

The CPU is programmed to recognize both alphanumeric characters andgraphical images created on the display 108 with the keys 103 and withthe stylus 104. Thus, the user is provided with a convenient,multifunctional, computing apparatus which also has ports (not shown)for transferring information to a printer or a host computer. In otherwords, the user may be working with the keypad 102 to run a built-in,sophisticated, spreadsheet program at a leisurely pace, or the user maywish to scribble in a quick reminder note or sketch with the stylus 104.

While versatile and easy to use, a problem with such notepad computingconvenience is that data entry, particularly with the stylus 104 israndomly input. For example, the user may be at a meeting where avariety of issues are being discussed that are traditionally stored invarious other programs, such as the spreadsheet 8, one of the databases5, in the appointment book, or the like. In such situations, real timedata entry into each application can become too complicated to keep upwith the meeting, rendering the usefulness of the apparatus less than anoptimal.

One method for creating pen generated notes is shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,398,310 to Tchao et al. for a Pointing Gesture Based Computer Note PadPaging and Scrolling Interface. Tchao shows a method for creating noteswhich can be segregated by drawing a line across the screen 38, creatinga new header for the following entry. Entry continues in that note untilanother line is drawn across the screen, creating a new header for thenext following entry. A limitation of the Tchao methodology is that onemust scroll through the notes sequentially. Another limitation is thatother than keeping the notes entered, there is no means of transferringthe notes to other applications.

Thus, there is a need for a random entry and random access method andapparatus for randomly generating information for subsequent correlatingto other resident applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A computer is provided with a system for randomly generating informationfor subsequent organization. Such a system comprises a series ofapplication programs and a screen. Of the application programs, at leastone contains a field that is capable of accepting data. An applicationprogram for randomly generating on the screen computer images, whichprovide information to a user, is also provided. The computer-generatedimages are arranged in a paginal order in such an application programand are presented to the user as pages of information. When onecomputer-generated image is selected and subsequently removed, the restof the images are re-arranged in a new paginal order. An icon depictingthe selected image is then provided on the screen, and if the icon iscorrelated with the data-accepting field, the selected image istransferred to such a field.

The present invention further provides for a memory device having anembedded program application in accordance with the methodology of thesesteps.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides a methodfor random entry of differing forms of data in data sets that can laterbe transferred to other relevant applications, thereby allowing a"capture first, organize later" operation philosophy valuable in hecticbusiness situations.

It is another advantage of the present invention that it automaticallyre-correlates remaining sets of data when any one set of a series istransferred to another application, thereby eliminating scrollingthrough blanked entries.

It is yet another advantage of the present invention that it caters to auser model of entering and organizing note-like information throughoutan integrated system in a way that is intuitive and natural to the user.

It is a further advantage of the present invention that it employsstylus based drag-and-drop data transfer to facilitate fast datamanipulation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon consideration of the following explanation and theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference designations representlike features throughout the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C are perspective depictions of a palmtop computingapparatus in accordance with the present invention in which:

FIG. 1A shows the apparatus open with a stylus partially withdrawn fromits holster;

FIG. 1B shows the apparatus of FIG. 1A as being used for data entryusing its keypad; and

FIG. 1C shows the apparatus fully opened and being used fro data entryusing the stylus.

FIG. 2 is a two dimensional depiction of the display device of theapparatus as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C.

FIG. 3 is a two dimensional depiction of the apparatus with a centraldata screen section of the display showing an exemplary mode ofoperation in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C is a flow chart for the methodology in accordance withthe present invention in which:

FIG. 4A is a flow chart showing the initial turn-on routine for theJOTTER application,

FIG. 4B is a flow chart showing the steps of a new data input routinefor the JOTTER application,

FIG. 4C is a flow chart showing the steps of a routine for the JOTTERapplication for function key operations implementing page changes,

FIG. 4D is a flow chart showing the steps of a routine for the JOTTERapplication function key to move from a current page to the first usedpage,

FIG. 4E is a flow chart showing the steps of a routine for the JOTTERapplication function key to discard a current used page, and

FIG. 4F is a flow chart showing the steps of a routine for the JOTTERapplication function key to transfer a current used page to a differentapplication.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the steps of a routine for startinganother application capable of receiving a used page from the JOTTERapplication in conformance with the aspects of the present invention asshown in FIG. 4F.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a routine associated with data entry in theJOTTER application as shown in FIG. 4A, element 409.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a routine associated with transferring a usedpage from the JOTTER application to another application in conformancewith the aspects of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4F.

The drawings referred to in this specification should be understood asnot being drawn to scale except if specifically noted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is made now in detail to a specific embodiment of the presentinvention, which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by theinventor(s) for practicing the invention. Alternative embodiments arealso briefly described as applicable.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of resident applications are provided inthe CPU and memory of the hand held computing apparatus 100. Eachapplication is accessed by tapping its touch sensitive icon 1-12 withthe tip of the stylus 104. Some routines are merely apparatus utilitiessuch as "Home screen"/icon 1 which boots up a main program manager;"Online help"/icon 2 which boots up help screens during applications;"Calculator/icon 9; "Graffiti"/icon 11 which is used to presethandwriting recognition patterns; and "Rotates the screen"/icon 12 whichchanges the data entry screen orientation ninety degrees as shown inFIG. 1C. Note that the keypad 102 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) also includesdedicated keys for each of the built-in applications for one-touchkeypad booting rather than stylus "tap and activate" entries. Thenon-utility program applications, icons 2-8, are interactive; that is,data can be transferred between the applications.

An application specific to the disclosure of the present invention isstored in fixed memory, such as a read only memory (ROM) integratedcircuit device (memory devices such as integrated circuits, flashmemory, hard disks, floppy disks, laser compact disks, and the like, arewell known in the art; further explanation is not necessary to anunderstanding of the present invention and the term "memory" should beunderstood to represent any such apparatus as would be justified as adesign expedient for a particular implementation of the presentinvention without limitation as to the claims hereinafter). The specificapplication of interest is referred to hereinafter as "JOTTER",represented by an touch sensitive icon 6 in the lower left corner of thedisplay 108. When the tip of the stylus 104 is touched to the JOTTERicon 6, the JOTTER application of the present invention is booted up.

The JOTTER application is a focal point for other applications; in otherwords, it is a locus for entry of data in a rapid manner for laterorganization. That is, the user may be receiving information which inreal-time he cannot rapidly organize in an intelligent manner. Thepresent invention functions to allow data capture now and organizationlater. Namely, data entered using the JOTTER application as describedhereinafter can have a logical destination application, e.g., time anddate data for an Appointment Book application, icon 2, to which the datacan be moved at a convenient time.

The functional operation of the JOTTER application is to allow the quickcapture of information by keypad 102 entries or in "ink"--that is, bythe use of the stylus 104 in a hand writing recognition mode on thedisplay 108 wherein sensing by the CPU of the position of the tip of thestylus on the screen 109 and its positional movement across the screen109 generates a corresponding image on the screen to create the illusionthat the stylus 104 is a "pen" drawing the image directly on the screen109.

The application is started by touching a dedicated function key 103 orthe tip of the stylus 104 to the JOTTER icon 6 in the display sideperimeter 201. The JOTTER application in accordance with the presentinvention is a multi-page (e.g., 20 pages) electronic notepad. Each pagecan contain alphanumeric text, graphical images, or both. Informationentered into the JOTTER application can be saved and later transferredto any other application that can have note or table as will beexplained in detail hereinafter. The JOTTER application methodologyallows multi-page, quick capture of information using the stylus 104 orthe keypad 102. After capturing the information, the user transfers itto another application or discards those notes that are no longerrequired. Information is captured in a first in, last out, "stack" ofvirtual pages, where page one (1) is at the bottom of the stack and themost recently entered data page, e.g., page eleven (11), is at the topof the stack. In the commercial embodiment of the HP OMNIGO computer,twenty (20) pages are permitted.

The operation in accordance with the present invention will now bedescribed in conjunction with continual reference to FIGS. 3 and 4A-F.To repeat, the application is started by touching the tip of the stylus104 to the JOTTER icon 6 in the display side perimeter 201 or tapping adedicated JOTTER key. This will bring up the application, represented bystep 401 in FIG. 4A.

The housing 106 portion that contains the display 108 is labeled, F1,F2, F3, F4, and F5, beneath the screen 109 as shown in FIG. 3 only. TheJOTTER application provides virtual function keys 301 (NEW), 302(FIRST), 303 (LAST), 304 (DISCARD), and 305 (STICK) across the bottom ofthe screen 109 in respective proximity to the labels F1 through F5 foruse with the stylus 104. A set of actual function keys 103 are providedas part of the keypad 102. The redundant virtual function keys 301-305permit stylus access rather than requiring a switch to the keypad 102which might be awkward, for example, if the apparatus 100 is being usedas shown in FIG. 1C.

An additional virtual key 306 provides access to a pop-up applicationmenu of editing and printing task commands, providing use of such wellknown screen editing actions as CUT, COPY, PASTE, DELETE, PRINT SCREEN,or the like.

Other function keypad keys 103 are provided and also duplicated withvirtual keys. Across the top of the screen 109 is a title bar showingthe active application name, JOTTER, its current page number (PAGE #), apen mode select virtual key 307 which pops up a menu of stylus 104functions (such as WRITE TEXT, DRAW INK, ERASE INK, SELECT INK, or thelike--where "SELECT" means a boundary can be drawn around some entry onthe screen in order to make it the object of a CUT, COPY, DELETE, or thelike, operation from the screen editing utility) as would be known to aperson skilled in the art and about which further detail is notnecessary to the understanding of the present invention. The pen modekey 307 icon will change to an image that reflects the status of the penmode currently selected by the user. Generally, the stylus 104 can onlybe in one mode at a time; for instance, if the stylus 104 is in a WRITEmode, a handwriting recognition mode is activated and text can bewritten and recognized but other modes, ERASE, DRAW, SELECT, aredisabled.

Two horizontal page change virtual keys 308, 309 are provided to allowthe user to go to the previous or the next JOTTER page; JOTTER employs"wrapping" and, thus, pressing the next page key 309 while on the lastused page moves to the first used page. To the left of the title bar isa virtual key 310 which closes the JOTTER application.

The first time that the application is started, it will bring up a blankpage if one is available; if not, the last page, e.g. page 20, will bedisplayed. Thus, in step 403, a data file is opened, that is a sectionof memory is initialized and designated for displaying data present init, if any, and storing new data entered; the apparatus initializes anddesignates a handwriting recognition mode of operation; and a textcursor, ₋₋ 312, appears on the beginning of the first text line. Ifsome, but not all, pages have been used, the application will alwaysbring up the page that was last used, with the stylus input modeactivated, and with the text cursor position in the same position aswhen the last input was entered.

In the next step 405, the application sets a flag to record usermodifications to a current page or when a stuck page (explained indetail hereinafter) is newly created or deleted by a destinationnon-utility application program, e.g. a calendar-type application. Aswould be well known in the art of integrated circuit data manipulation,this task can be implemented in a number of ways; most commonly,input/output registers, accumulators, or buffer circuitry associatedwith the display 108, act as a pipeline between a random access memoryand the keypad 102 or stylus 104 actions. simple user request input isthe use of the page change virtual keys 308, 309. Left and right facingarrow icons are provided to step through used pages; by used pages, ismeant pages in which data is presently held; the displayed page isconsidered "used" when any mark, "ink," albeit even a single dot orline, exists (entry of tabs or spaces alone are not printable andtherefore if a page contains only tab or space characters, it isconsidered "unused"). For example, assume there are three used pages.Tap the left page change virtual key 308 and the application will gofrom displaying the current page to the next previous used page. Inother words, if the current page is page 2, tapping the left page changevirtual key 308 takes the application to used page 1 which is thendisplayed on the screen 109. If the current page is page 1, tapping theleft page change virtual key 308 will take the application to the lastused page. Similarly, tapping the right page change virtual key 309 willtake the application to the next sequentially used page. In other words,if the current page is page 2, tapping the right page change virtual key309 takes the application to used page 3. Likewise, if the current pageis the last page, page 20 in the exemplary embodiment, tapping the rightpage change virtual key 309 will take the application to used page 1.Note that if only pages 1,2 and 3 are used, and the user being on usedpage 3 taps the right page change virtual key 309, the application wrapsto page 1 because it is the next used page. Again, as previously noted,dedicated keys 103 for page changing, e.g., labeled PREV, NEXT, or thelike, are provided as part of the keypad 102 for users who prefer keypaduse over stylus use at any particular time.

In order to omit the need for scrolling through pages sequentially, theapplication will recollate used pages by "shifting left" as needed. Thatis, if pages numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 are used, and page 3 is discarded(as will be explained hereinafter), the data on used page 4 isautomatically moved to page 3 and page 4 becomes available for reuse. Inthis manner, used pages are always contiguous; that is, the presentinvention does not require the user to step, or scroll, through blankpages. This may also be thought of as a stack of notes where if one ispulled from the stack, those below rise toward the top, viz., towardused page number 1.

Returning to the flow chart of FIG. 4A, assume that the apparatus hasbeen turned on, the JOTTER application selected, step 401, that the mostrecently used page has appeared on the screen, step 403, and allregisters/buffers are set, step 405. The application enters a wait state407 for user input. In general, except when executing another function,the application returns to the wait state 407.

Other than searching for a particular used page as just described, thelogical next use is data input, step 409. Data can be input using thekeypad 102 as shown in FIG. 1B, namely by typing alphanumeric characterswhich will appear sequentially as the cursor 312 moves across the screenas with any typical computing keyboard entry system. Alternatively, datacan be input using the stylus 104. In the example shown on screen 109 inFIG. 3, the user records a map and phone number of a client.Initialization has by default put the stylus 104 in the handwritingrecognition mode, DRAW INK. Therefore, the user can scrawl "MAP TOCLIENT 619 555 1234" across the screen as shown. Next, wishing to drawthe map, the user taps the mode virtual key 307; stylus mode selectionsappear on screen as a pop-up menu; and the user taps the icon or text toenable a graphics mode, e.g., a DRAW INK selection or the like. ERASEINK, a non-graphics mode, or SELECT INK, a momentary graphics modeoperation to enclose "INK" and recognize it for an editing operation aresimilary used. The pop-up menu vanishes and the stylus mode virtual key307 changes its icon to reflect the new mode. The user then draws linesto represent streets and intersections. Wishing to label the streets andintersections, the user again taps the stylus mode virtual key 307 andchanges back to the handwriting recognition mode by tapping theappropriate icon or its help text on the same pop-up menu, e.g., a " |!WRITE TEXT" menu selection or the like. Again, the pop-up menudisappears and the stylus node virtual key 307 changes to the icon |! toreflect the handwriting recognition mode. The user then prints thelabels shown in FIG. 3, "16399--X--WEST BERNARDO DR--I 15--and BERNARDOCENTER EXIT" with the stylus 104.

To continue the exemplary operation in accordance with the presentinvention, assume that the user has finished entering data for page 1and stops; the application returns to the wait state 407. Assume theuser next wishes to start a new page with a list of things to do for theclient prior to following the map to visit the client. Using either thededicated keypad F1 key or virtual function F1 key 301, NEW, with thestylus 104, as represented in step 411, a blank page is brought up onthe screen 109 in accordance with the steps of FIG. 1B. More data can beentered accordingly.

Note that the user could select another operation 413, 415, 417, 419,with the other dedicated function keys F2-F5, virtual keys 302-305,respectively. Details as to those operations follow hereinafter. Havingselected function key F1/301 NEW, step 411, the application takes thestep 421 of automatically saving the current text/drawing data to a pagefile in random access memory, where N is set as the total number of usedpages, thus if the current used page is page 1, set N=1, step 423. Theentered text/drawing data is cleared from the screen 109 (annotated inthe flow chart as "UI" for "user interface") and the title bar ischanged to "JOTTER (page #N+1)" for the new page in which data can beentered, step 425. For example, if the current used page is PAGE 3, theNEW page will be PAGE 4. Since the screen is blank at this point, theDISCARD and STICK function keys F4/304 and F5/305 are disabled, step427. The application again returns to the wait state 407. Selecting theF1/301, NEW, key has no effect if the current page does not contain anydata, step 429. If all pages have been used, step 431, including thecurrent page, the F1/301, NEW, key is disabled, step 433. As is commonto graphical user interface ("GUI") techniques, changing the color orshading of the virtual keys from a standard operational shading or colorindicates disablement.

A NEW page becomes a used page when it contains some text or drawing.Used pages are numbered sequentially, with PAGE 1 being the oldest page.Editing or modifying data on a used page (described in detailhereinafter) does not alter its page number.

At anytime during operation, the user can use the F2/302, FIRST, orF3/303, LAST, function keys. Tapping these keys takes the application tothe first or last page that contains data. The F2/302, FIRST, functionkey routine, step 413, is shown in FIG. 4C. If the current page is PAGE1 step 435, the F2/302, FIRST, key is disabled, step 437. Assuming thecurrent used page is not PAGE 1 as with the F1/301, NEW, function key,the first step 421' is to save the text/drawing data to a page file inmemory. In the next step 439, the current page number is set for PAGE 1i.e., PAGE 1=N-(N-1), where "N" is the current page number. Data is thenloaded from memory into the screen 109 buffers and displayed, with thetitle bar being updated to show "JOTTER (PAGE 1)", step 441. Functionkeys F4/304 and F5/305 are enabled for use, step 443. Again, theapplication returns to the wait state 407.

Use of the F3/303, LAST, function key, step 415 as shown in FIG. 4D, isvery similar to the F2/302, FIRST, function key routine. Note that theF2/302 key is disabled under two conditions: (1) there is only one usedpage, step 445, or (2) the current page is the last used page, i.e., thehighest in the stack of used pages, step 447. Step one, 421", of theLAST routine is to save the current used page to a file in memory. Tojump to the last used page, the called up current page will be page N-1step 449. Data will be transferred from memory for page N-1 to thescreen, step 451. The F4/304, DISCARD, and F5/305, STICK, keys areenabled and, since the application is now at the last used page, F3/303,LAST, is disabled, step 453. The wait state 407 is again entered.

Whenever a used page is on the screen 109, the F4/304, DISCARD, andF5/305, STICK, keys are enabled, see steps 417 and 419. FIG. 4E showsthe DISCARD routine. This routine is used to delete the entire currentused page. Tapping the F5/305, DISCARD, key pops up a dialog box, step455, which, in the typical computer mannerism, gives the user the chanceto confirm that the current page is to be discarded, step 457, or tocancel the request. If the user changes his mind, he cancels the requestand the application returns to the wait state 407; otherwise, theDISCARD command is reaffirmed. Once reaffirmed, the current used page isremoved from memory, pages with a number higher than the current pagedecrement by one; viz., if N=7, and the current used page is number 3,being discarded, used page 7 becomes the new used page 6, used page 6becomes the new used page 5, used page 5 becomes the new used page 4,and used page 4 becomes the current used page 3 which is transferredfrom memory to the screen 109--step 459. If the only used page is PAGE 1and it is discarded, a NEW page="JOTTER (PAGE 1)" is presented on thescreen 109. Again, the application goes to the wait state 407.

The F5/305, STICK, function key lies at the heart of the apparatusfunctionality. It provides a means of moving JOTTER entered data toanother program application as shown in FIG. 4F. Each non-utilityapplication (e.g., see icons 2-5, 7 and 8) is provided with a "NoteField" or "Table Fields" into which data can be transferred. In otherwords, each non-utility application is provided with a data retentioncapability, e.g., a Note Field in Database 5 or table items inSpreadsheet 8 (see FIG. 2), to which information can be directlytransferred to or from the JOTTER application by a simple user action,namely, a "drag-and-drop" feature as it is known in the art. These typeapplications support the JOTTER application in that pages can be moveddirectly from a JOTTER page to another application's particular NoteField. In other words, the present invention provides the electronicequivalent of writing something on a small pad, tearing off the writtenpage, and sticking the page somewhere else, e.g., in a physical filefolder where the note becomes more useful.

In general, the user writes so a JOTTER application page which is saveduntil it is discarded, as previously described, or it is "stuck" intoanother application.

When the user selects to move a current used page data to anotherapplication's Note Field, the F5/305, STICK, function key is tapped,step 419. If there is no data on the current page, or if there is andthe user selects the F5/305 function key, that key is disabled, step461. The current used page data is sent to a clipboard file, step 463.The STICK function works on the entire current used page, thus it isdifferent from other data editing such as CUT or COPY command functions.Next, all applications having a Note Field are notified that a page ofdata has been selected for a STICK operation, step 465. Shrink lineanimation--simple animation using rectangles as an outline showing thefull-screen application shrinking down to a simple icon--shows theJOTTER application shrinking down to a simple icon, such as a stick,appearing on the screen, in the preferred embodiment in the title bar,e.g., to the left of the stylus mode icon 307, step 467, shown inphantom line in FIG. 3 as element 314. The JOTTER application goes offline, step 469, deleting the page now represented by the remainingshrink line icon and adjusting the page numbers of remaining used pagesin accordance with the recollating of the DISCARD routine.

A non-utility application booting up displays STICK animation if thatapplication has the capability of receiving a page in a Note Field or asa table item; if it does not, the shrink line icon 314 for the STICKpage is disabled, that is, the STICK page so represented can not bedragged and dropped into that application, but the STICK page is notlost. Note that the JOTTER application does not allow the STICK page tobe dropped down onto either a used or NEW page; that is, in the Jotterapplication itself, the shrink line icon 314 remains disabled if theJOTTER application is rebooted after STICKing a page up in the title baras a shrink line icon 314.

The STICK page shrink line icon 314 remains in the title bar until it isdragged and dropped by the user as shown in FIG. 5 into a compatibleother application. Drag-and-drop operations are well known in thecomputer GUI state of the art. As an example of such an operation,assume an application having a Note Field or table, such as theAppointment 2 application (FIG. 2), is booted by using the touch screenicon 2 with the stylus 104 or a dedicated key 103, step 501. The STICKpage shrink line icon 314 in the title bar is enabled, step 503. Afterfinding the date for the client meeting, the user places the tip of thestylus 104 and holds it there until a signal, such as a beep, indicatesthat the STICK page has been captured by the stylus 104; the user thenslides the tip across the screen 109 to a valid drop area--designated byvisual feedback such as changing the color of a table location where thepage may be dropped in the opened application (losing contact beforereaching a valid drop area cancels the drag-and-drop operation); thestylus tip is then lifted from the drop area and the STICK page is"dropped" into the application accordingly. The shrink line icon 314then disappears from the title bar, step 505. The user now has a map andtelephone number in his Appointment schedule. All other applicationswhich were notified that a STICK page was available (see step 465) arenow notified that the STICK page is gone, step 507, thus, if bootednext, another application with STICK page receiving capability does notactivate the STICK page animation step 503 since there is no longer aSTICK page available. That is, animation only occurs once, yet eachnon-utility application needs to disable their STICK page icons. After asuccessful drag-and-drop operation, the STICK page shrink line icon 314is removed from the title bar.

In a note formatted screen or note field of an application, dragging theSTICK page shrink line icon into the data area will cause an outline boxto surround the entire note data area (viz., between the title bar andthe virtual function keys), providing visual feedback to the user.Dropping the icon 314 by lifting the stylus anywhere in this areaappends the JOTTER STICK page data to the end of the outlined note andcauses the note to update its display to show the appended data.

In a table screen, dragging the STICK page shrink line icon 314 willturn off any table selection highlighting of a currently selected tableitem and cause an outline box to appear around the item which the pen isover; this visual feedback outline box is the same width and height ofthe selection item and moves item by item as the icon 314 is draggedacross the table with the stylus. Dragging an icon 314 into the bottomor top edge of a table will scroll the table item by item and theoutline box will remain at its last position prior to scrolling.Dropping onto a table item appends the JOTTER data to the item's notearea. Dragging outside the table's scroll areas will remove the outlinebox visual feedback around table items and dropping the icon, viz.lifting the stylus, cancels the drag-and-drop operation. On completionof a drag-and-drop operation, the selection highlighting is restored onthe dropped item or at the last position of the outline box if the dropwas canceled.

In order to support the differing function keys properly, twoindependent routines are provided as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Referringto FIG. 6, the DISCARD function key F4/304 is disabled in the NEW pagemode--step 601.

Referring to FIG. 7, in conjunction with the STICK page animation asjust previously described, once a STICK page shrink line icon operationhas been instituted, all available applications which can receive theSTICK page JOTTER data which receive notification (FIG. 5, 507), step701, instruct enabling the STICK function key F5/305. When anotification is received by another application, shrink line animationand enabling is done. In the JOTTER application, the icon 314 is enabledand disabled depending upon if a STICK page exists; no overwriteoperation is allowed.

Thus, the concept of the present invention caters to a user model ofentering and organizing note-like information throughout an integratedsystem in a way that is intuitive and natural to the user.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art.Similarly, any process steps described might be interchangeable withother steps in order to achieve the same result. The embodiment waschosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theinvention and its best mode practical application to thereby enableothers skilled in the art to understand the invention for variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for randomly generating information forsubsequent organization in a computer by a user, the computer having aplurality of application programs and a display device with a screen,comprising the steps of:providing at least one of the applicationprograms with data-receiving functionality depicted as fields on thescreen; providing one of the application programs with data-capturefunctionality, further including the steps of:generating, in random timeand order, a plurality of computer-generated images on the screen,presenting the plurality of computer-generated images as a paginalarrangement on the screen for providing pages of display information tothe user, wherein each page of display information is represented by aset of data, selecting, in random time and order, any one of theplurality of sets of data, removing the page of display informationrepresented by the selected set of data from the paginal presentation onthe screen, repaginating the presentation of the plurality ofcomputer-generated images associated with the remaining sets of data,and providing an icon depicting the selected set of data on the screen;correlating the icon depicting the selected set of data with a depictedfield of the at least one data-receiving application program; andtransferring the set of data to the depicted field of the at least onedata-receiving application program.
 2. The method as in claim 1, whereinthe step of transferring the selected set of data further includesappending the selected set of data to the depicted field of the at leastone data-receiving application program.
 3. The method as in claim 1,wherein the step of providing the data-capture application programfurther includes closing the data-capture application program uponrepaginating the presentation of the plurality of computer-generatedimages.
 4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step ofopening the at least one data-receiving application program prior to thestep of correlating the icon depicting the selected set of data.
 5. Themethod as in claim 2, wherein the step of transferring the selected setof data further includes deleting the icon depicting the selected set ofdata after appending the selected set of data to the depicted field ofthe at least one data-receiving application program.
 6. The method as inclaim 1, wherein the step of correlating the icon depicting the selecteddata set further includes dragging and dropping the icon to a field ofthe at least one data-receiving application program.
 7. The method as inclaim 1, wherein the step of providing the icon depicting the selectedset of data further includes performing shrink line animation to providethe icon depicting the selected set of data.
 8. A memory device readableby a computer tangibly embodying a plurality of application programs ofinstruction executable by the computer to perform method steps forrandomly generating information for subsequent organization in acomputer by a user, the method steps comprising:providing at least oneof the application programs with data-receiving functionality depictedas fields on the screen; providing one of the application programs withdata-capture functionality, further including the steps of:generating,in random time and order, a plurality of computer-generated images onthe screen, presenting the plurality of computer-generated images as apaginal arrangement on the screen for providing pages of displayinformation to the user, wherein each page of display information isrepresented by a set of data, selecting, in random time and order, anyone of the plurality of sets of data, removing the page of displayinformation represented by the selected set of data from the paginalpresentation on the screen, repaginating the presentation of theplurality of computer-generated images associated with the remainingsets of data, and providing an icon depicting the selected set of dataon the screen; correlating the icon depicting the selected set of datawith a depicted field of the at least one data-receiving applicationprogram; and transferring the set of data to the depicted field of theat least one data-receiving application program.
 9. The memory device asin claim 8, wherein the step of transferring the selected set of datafurther includes appending the selected set of data to the depictedfield of the at least one data-receiving application program.
 10. Thememory device as in claim 8, wherein the step of providing thedata-capture application program further includes closing thedata-capture application program upon repaginating the presentation ofthe plurality of computer-generated images.
 11. The memory device as inclaim 8, further comprising the step of opening the at least onedata-receiving application program prior to the step of correlating theicon depicting the selected set of data.
 12. The memory device as inclaim 9, wherein the step of transferring the selected set of datafurther includes deleting the icon depicting the selected set of dataafter appending the selected set of data to the depicted field of the atleast one data-receiving application program.
 13. The memory device asin claim 8, wherein the step of correlating the icon depicting theselected data set further includes dragging and dropping the icon to afield of the at least one data-receiving application program.
 14. Thememory device as in claim 8, wherein the step of providing the icondepicting the selected set of data further includes performing shrinkline animation to provide the icon depicting the selected set of data.15. A computing apparatus, having a central processing unit, memory, avisual feedback input-output screen, a program-instruction anddata-manipulation gesturing device, a program-instruction anddata-manipulation keypad device, wherein said gesturing device and saidkeypad device are interactive with said screen, and a plurality ofapplication programs, the computing apparatus comprising:means forproviding at least one of the application programs with data-receivingfunctionality depicted as fields on the screen; means for providing oneof the application programs with data-capture functionality, furtherincluding the steps of:means for generating, in random time and order, aplurality of computer-generated images on the screen, means forpresenting the plurality of computer-generated images as a paginalarrangement on the screen for providing pages of display information tothe user, wherein each page of display information is represented by aset of data, means for selecting, in random time and order, any one ofthe plurality of sets of data, means for removing the page of displayinformation represented by the selected set of data from the paginalpresentation on the screen, means for repaginating the presentation ofthe plurality of computer-generated images associated with the remainingsets of data, and means for providing an icon depicting the selected setof data on the screen; means for correlating the icon depicting theselected set of data with a depicted field of the at least onedata-receiving application program; and means for transferring the setof data to the depicted field of the at least one data-receivingapplication program.
 16. The computing apparatus as in claim 15, whereinthe means for transferring the selected set of data further includesmeans for appending the selected set of data to the depicted field ofthe at least one data-receiving application program.
 17. The computingapparatus as in claim 15, wherein the means for providing thedata-capture application program further includes means for closing thedata-capture application program upon repaginating the presentation ofthe plurality of computer-generated images.
 18. The computing apparatusas in claim 15, further comprising the means for opening the at leastone data-receiving application program.
 19. The computing apparatus asin claim 16, wherein the means for transferring the selected set of datafurther includes means for deleting the icon depicting the selected setof data after appending the selected set of data to the depicted fieldof the at least one data-receiving application program.
 20. Thecomputing apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the means for correlatingthe icon depicting the selected data set further includes means fordragging and dropping the icon to a field of the at least onedata-receiving application program.
 21. The computing apparatus as inclaim 15, wherein the means for providing the icon depicting theselected set of data further includes means for performing shrink lineanimation to provide the icon depicting the selected set of data.